Vehicle supported concrete moulding machine



Dec. 20, 1966 A. H. CHENEY 3,292,511

VEHICLE SUPPORTED CONCRETE MOULDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 13, 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 20, 1966 A. H. CHENEY 3,292,511

vnmcma surron'rsn concnmm mouwme MACHINE Filed Nov. 13, 1965 '7 Sheets-Sheet z Dec. 20, 1966 A. H. CHENEY VEHICLE SUPPORTED CONCRETE MOULDING MACHINE 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 20, 1966 H, CHENEY 3,292,511

VEHICLE SUPPORTED CONCRETE MOULDING MACHINE Filed NOV. 1.3, 1965 7 Shets-Sheet 4 Dec. 20, 1966 H, CHENEY 3,292,511

VEHICLE SUPPORTED CONCRETE MOULDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 13, 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 Dec. 20, 1966 A. H. CHENEY- 3,

vmucma surromzn concRETE mouwme momma Filed Nov. 13, 1963 '7 Sheets-Sheet e Dec. 20, 1966 A. H. CHENEY 3,292,511

VEHICLE SUPPORTED CONCRETE MOULDING MACHINE Filed Nov. 13, 1963 7 Sheets-Sheet 7 FORWARD VIBRRTOR 1. EVEL TCH TR v54. $TERIIVG TILT United States Patent 3,292,511 VEHICLE SUPPORTED CONCRETE MOULDING MACHINE Alwyn H. Cheney, 23 Vancouver Ave, Springbank, South Australia, Australia Filed Nov. 13, 1963. Ser. No. 323,339 13 Claims. (Cl. 94-46) This invention relates to a concrete moulding machine adapted to be supported by a vehicle, for example a road vehicle.

It is known to use concrete moulding machines which run on rails which have been set up, the rails being positioned laterally and for height, and the concrete moulding machine having a fixed relation between the track of the wheels thereon which engage the rails and the path of travel of the mould attached thereto. The moulding of the concrete has now been developed to a stage where the time taken is small, and most of the cost of labour in moulding, for example, a curb, is due to the large amount of time required to set up rails to support a concrete moulding machine. Some set up of course is required under any circumstance, but it is found that the time required to set up a light datum rail or tensioned wire is very much less than the time required to set up rails to support a curb laying machine.

Accordingly the main object of this invention is to provide a moulding machine which is adapted to be carried on a land vehicle and to be controlled by a datum rail.

When a concrete mould is carried on a land vehicle, the two main variables which exist between the path of travel of the land vehicle and a datum line member set up adjacent the path of travel are the direction and height variations, and specifically this invention is directed to means whereby the variations in direction and height between the path of travel of the concrete mould on a land vehicle and a datum line member will be reduced to such an extent that the mould follows a path substantially parallel to the datum line member.

In its simplest form this invention may be said to consist of a vehicle supported concrete moulding machine which comprises a frame arranged to be carried by a land vehicle, a travelling concrete mould guided for movement relative to the frame, height correction means betwen the concrete mould and the frame, height responsive sensing means overhanging and engageable against the upper surface of a datum line member, power steering means operable between the chassis of the vehicle and its *front wheels, steering sensing means on the concrete mould engageab'le against the side surface of the datum line member, and power means on the vehicle connected to the height correction means and power steering means and controlled by the height responsive sensing means and steering sensing means to thereby limit height and direction variation respectively between the mould and the datum line member.

A machine constructed according to this invention will follow fairly faithfully a datum line member, provided the land vehicle traverses a substantially fiat surface. However this is not always practicable and the invention may be extended to include means to correct the vehicle against tilt in a transverse direction and against pitch in a longitudinal direction whereby such vehicle movement does not impart a corresponding movement to the mould.

An embodiment of the invention is described hereunder in some detail with reference to'and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically a land vehicle with a travelling concrete mould thereon and height correction means between the vehicle and the mould controlled by height responsive sensing means overhanging the mould,

FIG. 2 is a plain view of a land vehicle, according to FIG. 1 and showing power steering means operable between the chassis of the vehicle and its front wheels and controlled by steering sensing means,

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevation of the said vehicle also shown diagrammatically and illustrating tilt correction means controlled by gravity responsive sensing means,

FIG. 4 is a further diagrammatic representation showing the land vehicle in the side elevation and showing a pitch correction motor controlled by pitch sensing means,

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic exploded perspective view of the land vehicle showing the concrete moulded thereon and correction means which are illustrated individually in FIGS. 14, but omitting the concrete conveyors and the vibrating mechanism which can be made use of with the invention,

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary plan showing the drive for the land vehicle but with the driving pinion disengaged from the driven gear,

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary end elevation showing in some detail the mechanism "for controlling side tilt,

FIG. 8 is a sectional elevation of the travelling mould itself,

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary plan showing in some detail the power steering means between the chassis of the land vehicle and its front wheels, and

FIG. 10 is a hydraulic circuit. 4

This embodiment is described with reference to the securing of a curb moulding machine to a Land Rover, the word Rover being the registered trademark of the Rover Company. It will be seen however, that the invention can be applied to other types of vehicles, and can be used for forming pipes, paths and the like.

According to this embodiment a Land Rover 20 has its chassis 21 fitted with a sub frame 22 bolted thereon, and the sub frame 22 has lugs 23 which pivotally support the lower end of a side tilt frame 24.

The side tilt frame 24 carries on it a pair of parallel upstanding posts 27 (see FIGS. 5 and 7) and these posts 27 are spaced at their lower ends by the spacer member 28 (see FIG. 5) and at their upper ends by the spacer member 29 (see FIGS. 5 and 7), and the posts 27 constitute guides which guide a concrete travelling mould 31 for movement relative to the side tilt frame 24 for the purpose of height adjustment.

These posts 27 are slida bly engaged by guide members 33 on a height adjustment frame 34, the height adjustment frame 34 containing a nut 35 (see FIG. 5). The height adjustment is achieved by means of a screw 36 depending from a hydraulic mot-or 37 which is mounted on a. bracket extending outwardly from the upper spacer bracket 29 (see FIGS. 5 and 7). The chassis 21 carries on it a post 39 (see FIG. 7) which supports a trunnion cylinder 40 linked to the side tilt frame 24, so that the trunnion cylinder 40 and the hydraulic motor 37 constitute side tilt and height adjustment means for the travelling concrete mould 31.

The height adjustment frame 34 carries on it a turn- 3 table 43 (which is shown exploded in FIG. 5) and this turntable 43 provides a transverse axis about which the concrete mould 31 is adjustable for pitch of the vehicle 20, and this adjustment is achieved by means of a screw 44 on the shaft of a hydraulic pitch control motor 45, the pitch control motor 45 being pivotalily supported in a bracket 46 fixed relative to the height adjustment frame 34, while the nut 47 engaged by the screw 44 is pivotally carried in a bracket 48 fixed on to the concrete mould 31, thus it will be seen that the concrete mould 31 is controlled for pitch in a longitudinal direction by the motor 45, for tilt in a transverse direction byithe trunnion cylinder 40, and for height by the hydraulic motor 47.

The front end of the chassis 21 has a bracket 51 depending from it (see FIGS. 5 and 9) and this supports a trunnion mounted power steering cylinder 52 which is linked to the steering mechanism 53 of the vehicle 20 by coupling on to the steering {box arm 54. The piston rod nut member 55 carries on it a switch control cam 56 (not shown in FIG. 5) which moves between two limit switches 57 which function simply as cut out switches to stop the mechanism from functioning further in the case of the wheels turning excessively.

The drive for the vehicle 20 is through its tail shaft 60 by means of a hydraulic travel motor 61 which drives through a reduction gear box 62 on to a driving pinion 63 which moves axially under the influence of a OOIItI'Otl. lever 64 so as to engage or disengage a ring gear 65 which is secured to the brake housing 66 which exists on the tail shaft 60 of the Land Rover vehicle.

The Land Rover vehicle is provided with a power takeoff shaft 70, and this is fitted with sprockets 71 and 72 which drive through chains 73 and 74 respectively the hydraulic pumps marked 75, 76, 77, 78, and 79 on a platform 80 on the chassis 21 of the vehicle.

The travelling mould 31 includes a chute 82 which is arranged to be filled by conveyors (not shown) and this leads into a pair of inclined screw housings 83 each containing a screw 84 driven by a hydraulic motor 85. The mould extends rearwardly from the lower ends of the screw housings 83 with a skirt 87 (but is not secured thereto), the skirt 87 having a series of slots 88 therein, the effect of the slots 88 being to reduce cracking in the concrete. The skirt 87 is disposed beneath and resilient- 1 ly supported by a sub frame 89 which supports a hydraulic motor 90 which drives a vibrator 91, the vibrator 91 being mounted directly on the ski-rt 87, through a V belt 92 (this arrangement is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, but not in FIG. 5).

In each case the control for the direction, height correction, transverse tilt and longitudinal pitch is by means of switches operated by means of sensing switches which in turn control the solenoid operated hydraulic valves of the centralizing type.

Thus the height correction means which are illustrated diagrammatically in FIG. 1 comprise a rocker arm 98 carrying a roller 99 which engages the upper surface of a datum line member 100 (which in this embodiment is a stiff rail suitable for negotaiting corners, but can be a stretched line for negotiating straight lengths). In the event of the vehicle 20 moving downwardly relative to the datum line 100 the rocker arm 98 closes a switch 101 while upward movement closes the switch 102, the switches 101 and 102 being sensitive micro switches. Either one of these in being closed will deliver power from a battery 103 to a respective coil 104 or 105 on .a centraliz ing hydraulic valve 106, which in this embodiment is a solenoid valve catalogued DG4S4-012C-12DC-41 manufactured by Vickers-Detroit Hydraulics Pty. Limited of 160 Rosamond Road, Maribyrnong, Victoria, Australia.

However any of the well-known centralizing hydraulic valves will be found to be satisfactory for this purpose. This then drives the hydraulic motor 37 in either direction depending on which switch is closed, the power coming from the pump 79.

The control for the power steering is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2 wherein a flange steering sensing roller 109 has either one of its two flanges engaging the side face of the datum line member upon deviation of the vehicle 20 from a path parallel to the datum line member, and this movement is transmitted directly on to the rocker arm 110 which closes either one of the steering control switches 111 or 112 dependent upon the direction of movement, and this similarly operates the solenoid valve 113 in either direction to move the piston rod of arms and 126 respectively dependent upon direction of pitch and this energises the solenoid valve 127 to drive the pitch motor 45 in eitherdirection so as to correct pitch in like manner to the control for the level motor 37.

FIG. 10 shows the hydraulic circuit of the machine,.and the pumps 75 and 76 drive the screw motors 85, while the pumps 77 and 78 drive the conveyors (not shown) and the forward travel motor 61 on the vehicle 20 respectively. Speed control for the travel motor is through a throttle valve 130 (which can be automatically controlled) and speed control for the vibrator motor 90 is through a throttle valve 131 (which in this embodiment is manually controlled). The oil in each case circulates from and retums to the reservoir 132.

What I claim is:

1. A vehicle siipported concrete moulding machine comprising:

a land vehicle supported on two front wheels and two rear wheels,

a frame arranged to be carried by the land vehicle,

a travelling concrete mould supported by the frame,

guide means on the mould guiding the mould for movement relative to the frame,

height correction means operatively coupling the concrete mould and the frame to vary the height of the mould relative to the frame,

a datum line member, height responsive sensing means fixed relative to but overhanging the concrete mould and enagageable against the upper surface of the datum line member when the datum line member is positioned alongside the path of travel of the vehicle,

power steering means on the vehicle operable between the chassis of the vehicle and its front wheels,

steering sensing means on the concrete mould engageable against the side surfaces of the datum line member, and

power means on the vehicle connected to the height correction means and power steering means and coupling means between the height correction means and the height responsive sensing means, and between the power steering means and the steering sensing means, the height correction means and power steering means thereby being controlled by the height responsive sensing means and steering sensing means respectively to limit height and dircction variation respectively between the mould and the datum line member.

2. A vehicle supported concrete moulding machine according to claim 1 wherein the height correction means between the concrete mould and the frame comprise a hydraulic motor on the frame driving a screw, a height adjustment frame guided for vertical movement relative to the first said frame, and a nut in the height adjustment frame, said screw threadably engaging said nut.

3. A vehicle supported concrete moulding machine according to claim 1 wherein the height responsive sensing means comprise a rocker arm pivoted relative to the concrete mould, engaging means on the rocker arm engageable against the upper surface of the datum line member, and a pair of switches one being closed by the rocker arm on raising of the engaging means by the datum member and the other being closed by lowering of the engaging means by the datum member, a solenoid operated reversible hydraulic valve controlling said height correction means, and electrical connections between the solenoids of said valve and respective said switches, said switches thereby controlling the reversible hydraulic valve.

4. A vehicle supported concrete moulding machine according to claim 1 wherein the height correction means between the concrete mould and the frame comprises a hydraulic motor on the frame driving a screw, a height adjustment frame guided for vertical movement relative to the first said frame and a nut in the height adjustment frame, said screw threadably engaging said nut,

and the height responsive sensing means comprise a rocker arm pivoted relative to the concrete mould, a roller on the rocker arm engageable against the upper surface of the datum :line member, a pair of switches each fixed relative to the concrete mould, one switch being closed by the rocker arm on raising of the roller by the datum line member and the other being closed by lowering of the roller by the datum member, a solenoid operated reversible hydraulic valve in fluid flow communication with and controlling the direction of rotation of the height correction hydraulic motor and electrical connections between the solenoids of said valve and respective said switches, the switches thereby controlling operation and direction of the valve.

5. A vehicle supported concrete moulding machine according to claim 1 wherein the power steering means comprises a power steering cylinder trunnion mounted relative to the vehicle chassis at one end and pivotally connected to the steering mechanism at the other end.

6. A vehicle supported concrete moulding machine according to claim 1 wherein the steering sensing means comprises a sensing member or members engageable against 'both side faces of the datum member, a pivoted arm supporting the sensing member or members, a pair of switches alternatively engageable by the pivoted arm upon relative side movement of the concrete mould and the catum line member in each direction, solenoid operated reversible hydraulic valve control means, and electrical connections between the solenoids of said valve and respective said switches, a said solenoid being energizable by the closure of a respective said switch.

7. A vehicle supported concrete moulding machine according to claim 1 wherein the power steering means comprises a power steering cylinder trunnion mounted relative to the vehicle chassis at one end and pivotally connected to the steering mechanism at the other end,

and the steering sensing means comprises a roller,

flanges on the roller engageable one against each side face of the datum member, a pivoted arm supporting the roller, a pair of switches alternatively engageable by the pivoted arm upon relative side movement of the concrete mould and the datum line member in each direction, a solenoid operated reversible hydraulic control valve, and electrical connections between the solenoids of said valve and respective said switches, a said solenoid being energized by closure of a respective said switch to thereby extend or retract the power steering cylinder dependent upon which of the switches is closed by said relative side movement.

8. A vehicle supported concrete moulding machine according to claim 1 further comprising side tilt control means, the side tilt control means comprising a pivotal connection between the frame arranged to be carried by a land vehicle and the concrete mould, said pivotal connection having a longitudinal axis and a hydraulic tilt control cylinder operable between the land vehicle and the concrete mould about said pivotal connection.

9. A vehicle supported concrete moulding machine according to claim 1 further comprising side tilt control sensing means, the side tilt control sensing means comprising a pendulum pivoted about a longitudinal axis, a pair of switches alternatively operable by the pendulum upon movement in each direction from a mean position, a solenoid operated reversible hydraulic valve, and electrical connections between the solenoids of said valve and respective said switches, the valve operating in either one of two directions dependent upon which of said switches is closed by the pendulum.

10. A vehicle supported concrete moulding machine according to claim 1 further comprising side tilt control means, the side tilt control means comprising a pivotal connection between the frame arranged to be carried by a land vehicle and the concrete mould, said pivotal connection having a longitudinal axis and a hydraulic tilt control cylinder operable between the land vehicle and the concrete mould about said pivotal connection, the tilt control sensing means comprising a pendulum pivoted about a longitudinal axis, a pair of switches alternatively operable by the pendulum upon movement in each direction from a mean position, solenoid operated reversible hydraulic valve means, an electrical connection between the solenoids of said valve means and respective said switches, conduits between the valve means and the tilt control cylinder, the solenoid operated control valve means in turn controlling operation of the tilt control cylinder in either one of two directions dependent upon which of said switches is closed by the pendulum.

11. A vehicle supported concrete moulding machine according to claim 1 further comprising pitch control sensing means, the pitch control sensing means including a pair of longitudinally spaced rocker arms each pivoted relative to the concrete mould and each operable to close a switch upon engagement of a sensing member thereon with the upper surface of the datum line member, and a solenoid operated oil valve, an electrical connection between the solenoids of said oil valve and respective said switches, the direction of operation of said oil valve being controlled according to the switch closed by engagement of the sensing member against said upper datum line member surface.

12. A vehicle supported concrete moulding machine according to claim 1 further comprising pitch control means including a pair of longitudinally spaced rocker arms which carry a roller engageable against the upper surface of the datum line member, each rocker arm pivoted relative to the concrete mould and each operable to close, a switch, a reversible solenoid operated oil valve, an electrical connection between the solenoids of said oil valve and each said switch, the direction of operation of the oil valve being controlled according to the switch closed, a hydraulic motor in fluid flow with and thereby controlled by the solenoid operated oil valve, a threaded screw member driven by the motor engaging a nut on the concrete mould and arranged to rock the concrete mould about a transverse axis.

13. A vehicle supported concrete moulding machine comprising a sub frame arranged to be carried by a land vehicle, a side tilt frame pivoted about a longitudinal axis to the vehicle sub frame, a trunnion mounted hydraulic tilt control cylinder operable between the sub frame and the side tilt frame, upstanding guides on the side tilt frame, a height adjustment frame guided for vertical movement by the upstanding guides on the side tilt frame, pendulum controlled sensing means on the height adjustment frame controlling said side tilt control cylinder, a motor driven screw and nut adjustment between the side tilt frame and the height adjustment frame, a tumtable on the height adjustment frame having a transverse axis, a concrete mould pivotally supported by the turntable, a hydraulic motor driven screw and nut between the concrete mould and the height adjustment frame constituting pitch correction means, a power steering cylinder trunnion mounted relative to the vehicle chassis at one end, the steering mechanism pivotally connected to the other end of the power steering cylinder a datum :line member, and a series of rollers on rocker arms carried by and pivotally supported relative to the concrete mould, each roller engaging the datum line member, switches each controlling said tilt control cylinder, said height adjustment control motor, said pitch correction motor, and said power steering cylinder, said switches being operated by said rocker arms.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS Hoen 61-43 Guntert 94-46 X Alberts 94-46 'X Mentes 94-46 Jennings 94--46 'Dunn 94-44 

